Noisemaking novelty device



March 17, 1953 J F, LA JOHN 7 2,631,852

NOISEMAKING NOVELTY DEVICE.

Filed June *6, 1951- INVEN TOR. AMEs E LAJaH/v Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,631,852 NoIsEMAKmG NOVELTY DEVICE James La John, Erie, Pa. Application met, 1951, Serial No. 230,158

. 1 This invention relates generally to a noise making amusement device and more particularly to a noise making novelty simulating the outward appearance of a conventional cigarette lighter Novelty noise making devices utilizing percussion caps; are usuallyoperable uponthe openin of a cover or the like,v thereby exposing thee;- ploding precussion cap with the result that fly ing particles from the cap cause damage to clothing and they get into the eye or onto the skin of the persons close to the device, thereby resulting in injury to their person. These devices usually operate upon theopening of a cover or the like which is held down towards the middle of the body a good distance from the ears of the person operating the novelty device so that the elements of surprise is not as complete as when one is waiting for a light from a conventional cigarette lighter poised in front of a cigarette in his mouth. A percussion cap exploding in the air does not make a very loud noise as compared to one which explodesin an enclosure. 1

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a noise making novelty having the same outward appearance as a cigarette lighter which is simple in construction, economical in cost, economical in manufacture, and eflicient-inoperationa Another object of my invention is to provide a noise making novelty which may utiliz the outer case of a conventional cigarette lighter. Another object of my invention is to provide an explosive noise making novelty enclosed so,

that a comparatively loud report is obtained from a comparatively small explosive cap. j.

Another object of my invention is to provide a noise making novelty which is so deceptive and positioned in such a manner as to provide the greatest element of surprise to an unsuspecting user of the device.

Another object of my invention is to provide a noise making novelty which provides simple means for placing the cap therein in position for operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device for exploding an explosive cap in absolute safety.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed descriptio taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which 7 H Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my novel noise making novelty simulating the outward appearance of a cigarette lighter;

Fig. 2' is a vertical sectional view through the insert member containing my novel mechanism for exploding "a cap, the mechanism being in a retracted position; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the insert member of my novel noise making novelty wherein the hammer urged by the spring has been released to engage the cap therein.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in Fig. 1 a conventional rectangular shaped outer case I having a cover 2 hinged at 3 and a spring 4 engageahle with a cam portion 5 on the cover 2 to urge the cover 2 to an open or a closed position.j

This type of case is now used on conventional nationally advertised lighters.

An insert member 9 fits into the case I as shown in Fig. 1 and it comprises an insert cas It] open at the bottom thereof. It has a perforated oval shaped shield ll mounted on the upper end,

tional lighters now on the market. The insert.

case Hi, the oval shaped shield H, the wick l2, and the knurled wheel l6 are exactly the same in shape and size as similar elements on cigarette lighters now on the market. A vertically extend.- ing shaft I1 is attached to the underside of the knurled wheel l6 and it extends downwardly through a depending tubular portion l8 inside the insert case In through which flints areusually ex.- tended in a conventional lighter. The shaft I! has the lower end l'9 thereof threaded to threadably receive threaded nuts 20 and 2|. member 22 is disposed and secured between the nuts 20 and 2|. The insert case H] has a transverse shaft 23 mounted therein upon which is mounted the intermediate loomd portion 24 of a...

One nd 26 of the spring spring member 25. member 25 abuts against the depending tubular member I8 and the opposite end 21 thereof has a hammer 2B mountedthereon adapted to strike the head 29 of a percussion cap disposed on the lower inner side of the case [0 as shown in Figs.

the hook 22 into engagement with the groove 30 in the hammer 28 as shown in Fig. 2. In the operation of my novel noise makin novelty, the hammer 28 is retracted by the forefinger to a position as shown in Fig. 2 and the shaft I1 is forced downwardly by pressing a finger against the wheel "5 to a position where the end of;-the hook 22 engages the groove 30 whereby the wheelit is released and the shaft l1 moves upwardly to hold the hammer 28 in a retracted position as shown in Fig. 2. The cap is then disposed on the lower inner side 01.

A hook cigar whereupon he places his finger on the wheel [6 to rotate it in the usual manner with the resultthat the shaft I is moved downwardly in the slot I4, thereby moving theshaft l1 downwardly to push the end of the hook 22 out of engagement with" the groove 3G in the hammer 28 whereby the, hammer 28 is released and snapped by the spring 25 against the percussion cap-29 to cause a loud report: The explosion of the cap is absolutely safe'because it is inside of the outer case and also the insert case it, thereby enclosin all flying" particles from the cap within the cases l' and Hli The enclosed cases i and It also tend to greatly amplify the sound from the cap.

It'wi-ll' be evident from the foregoing description that I' haveprovided a novel noise making noveltywhich exactlysimulates the outer appearance of a conventional cigarette lighter now on the market, one which is safe, one which amplifies the'sound of a percussion cap, one which is deceptive and does not arouse suspicion as to what is'i'n the device, one which is very simple in manufacture, and onewhich is easily operated by an unsuspecting person without the detection of any trick of any kind.

Various'changes may be made in the specific embodiment of my invention without departing fromthe spirit thereof or from the scope of the appendedclaims.

What Iclaim is:

1. A noise making novelty device comprising an outer case having a cover, an insert case for disposal in said outer case having a simulated shield and knurled Wheel, a shaft attached to said wheel and extending downwardlyinto said insert case, a spring, for urging said shaft upwardly, a

hook carried on the lower end of said shaft, a

spring urged hammer mounted in said insert case adapted to be held by said hook in a retracted position, and means for'disposing a cap The lighter is handed to an-unsuspecting 7' ingsaid insert case adapted to be struck by said" hammer, said hammer being released by said hook upon longitudinal'movem'ent of said shaft;

2. A noise making novelty device for disposal in a conventional cigarette case comprising an insert casing open at the bottom thereof and attached to said spring adapted to be engaged bysaid hook for holding it in aretractedpQsition,,-and means in said casing for placing'an exp'losivecap in the path of said hammer for explosion thereby, said hook being disengaged from said hammer upon longitudinalmovement ofsaidshaft in said insert casing.

3'. A noise makingnovelty' device simulating the outer case and insert case of a conventional cigarettelighter comprising an outer casing, an

4 insert casing for disposal in said outer casing, a knurled wheel on said insert casing, a shaft connected to said wheel and extending internally of said insert casing, a coihspring surrounding said shaft betwenisaid i jzgt casing and said wheel, a hook member carried by said shaft in said insert casing, a spring urged hammer in said insert casing adapted to be held in a retracted position by said hook member, and means for positioning an explosive cap in said casing in the path of said hammer to explode same, said h'ammer being released upon pressure being applied longitudinally of said shaft on said knurled wheelwhereby said shaft is, moved longitudinally. 4. A noise making novelty device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said spring urged hammer is supported by'a V-shaped spring supported intermediate thereof on a transverse-shaftinsaid insert casing, one end of'said spring having said} hammer attached thereto and the other end of saidspring'being anchored in said insert casing;

5. A noise making novelty device simulating the outward appearance of-a cigarette lighter" and'insertable inra' conventional cigarette lighter" case comprising an ins'ertcasing, a knurled wheel simulating thefrictionwhe'el'df 'a cigarette lighter disposed on the end of' said-"casing, a shaft attached to said wheelandsupporting same err-- tending into said insert casing, a coil spring surrounding said "shaft between'the end of said casing and said wheel, a hammer in said casing, aspring for supporting said hammer'and urging it towards one side of said casing, :a'catch on the lower end of said shaft for releasably secur-- lighter case and an insert case disposable there in comprising an outer case, a cover on said case; an insert case for disposal 'in said outercase, a simulated guard, -wick,' and knurled wheel on one end of said insert case, a shaft connectedto said knurled wheel and extending intosaid insert case,

a spring for urging "said "shaftand knurled wheel outwardly from said insert case, a connecting link" carried onithelower;endofsaid shaft, a hammerdisposed in said insert case, a spring member in said case to force said hammertowards one side ofsaid' case, and'm'eans for "positioning an 'ex 4 plosive cap on one side of said case in the path" of said hammer; said connecting link on said shaft being adapted to hold said hammerin a retracted position and-being-adapted to release" same upon longitudinal movement of said shaft-L JAlVIES F. LA JOHN;

REFERENCES CITED"v fhe following references are of rec'ord'inthe me of this patent:'

UNITED STATES PATENTS. 

